THE WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIP.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 5280, 14 January 1879, Page 3

THE WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIP.

(From the Otago Daily Times, Jan. 7.) In presenting the Champion Belt to Tyson at the Caledonian Games yesterday, Mr W. C. Kirkcaldy spoke as follows '.—" The pleasing duty now devolves on me, in my dual capacity as referee, and as President of the Caledonian Society, to declare you champion thrice told, and to bend round your loins the honorable insignia of the Champion Belt, so worthily held by you for the last three years against all comers, and now finally won by you this day, in a manly, straightforward manner. What adds to my pleasure in presenting the belt, and to yours in winning it, is the fact that, by your victory, you have done honor to New Zealand, and especially to Otago, in that you have vanquished in fair field the best man Australia could bring forward. You also deserve credit for the prompt manner in which you responded to the first challenge, leaving your contract at Kopua (Hawke's Bay), and coming up here at great pecuniary loss and expense to defend the belt, which proves that you rightly value the honor of the Championship, and the proud distinction of retaining and winning the belt, far above and beyond any money consideration. Money "may take to itself wings and fly, but an honorable distinction, honestly and fairly won, remains for ever. The belt being now your private property, must be a source of pride to you, and will, no doubt, be a precious heirloom in years to come. Sir Walter Scott, a " Border" man, fitly introduces his readers to a wrestling tournament in the following appropriate lines : — " "Now clear the ring, for man to man, The manly wrestlers take their stand." Now what the Caledonion Society specially wishes to encourage and perpetuate by this and such-like competitions, ia this very spirit of manliness, and I am sure every person present on Thursday and to-day will agree with me, that manlier wrestling has never been exhibited than that between yourself and your worthy antagonist, who is indeed a ' foeman worthy of your steel.' Your competition to-day, and the running walking, leaping, hammer-throwing, and other contests of this Scottish gathering, prove that the old enduring spirit is as strong, if not stronger, in the hearts of Britannia's sons, and is a guarantee that, if need be, they would " Stand as freemen or as freemen fa." and be " A wall of fire around New Zealand's Isle." In conclusion, gentlemen, I call on you all to unite with me in wishing long life and health to both Tyson and Thomas, and to give them a hearty, ringing, Otago cheer. " Mr Kirkcaldy then clasped the belt round Tyson's waist amidst loud and prolonged cheers, when the champion was immediately seized and carried off in triumph.